THE Station Café | Bar in Richmond has reopened its doors for the first time since the government forced closure in March.

The restaurant has implemented a range of measures to ensure the health and safety of its customers, including socially distant tables, a one-way system and a door attendant to show customers to their seats. Although things may look different, visitors will still receive a warm welcome from the same successful team.

A new reduced menu has also been created, still using the freshest ingredients from local suppliers and with a great variety of breakfast choices, light bites, British classics, pizzas, hearty Station favourites and tempting cake selections.

Café | Bar manager Emma Bottomley and head chef Gareth Bottomley said: “The first week has flown by. It has been a hard week putting our new procedures in place; keeping the two metre distance between tables, organising a one way system with sanitising stations, door monitors, customer records; to name just a few, the list is long.

"We are really pleased how everyone has handled these changes, our amazingly supportive staff have shown us once again just how dedicated they are. We were so happy to see a lot of our regular customers returning in a steady flow, taking all the new procedures in their stride and with a smile on their face. It’s been a real privilege to hear so many of our customers say we are the first place they visited since the lockdown has eased, and because of the measures we have put in place they all felt safe and would be back again very soon. We have sold every item on the menu in the first week which hopefully shows there something is for everyone." Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, and until 7pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from July 24.

From August 3, The Station Café | Bar will be extending its opening hours further, to include Mondays and Tuesdays 10am to 7pm, in order to take part in the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Customers are encouraged to book a table by calling 01748-825967 or emailing restaurant@thestation.co.uk.